He reached into the truck and retrieved silver handcuffs. Alarm raced down her spine. Staring at the cuffs, she drew back. Silver did not kill Lupines, but made them weak and helpless.
Giving her an apologetic glance, Ryder snapped the cuffs on her wrists. Her knees sagged and she grabbed a fistful of his shirt to remain standing. His touch seared her with heat as he lifted her by the waist into the truck.
“Sorry for the restraints, but I can’t risk you running off. When we get home, I’ll remove them.”
“My home is back with Aiden. Who, by the way, will be furious when he finds out what you’ve done.”
He shut her door, then climbed into the driver’s seat and switched on the ignition. “By the time your brother discovers your abduction, you’ll be naked in my bed.”
Arousal bit at the possessive note in his deep voice. She imagined Ryder’s strong, gorgeous body heavy on top of her as he parted her thighs and slid deep inside. Pushing aside the tempting thought, Kara scowled. “What makes you think I’d agree to this insane plan?”
Ryder glanced at her. “The money I’m sending to your brother in exchange for you. Or does Aiden have the funds to pay off the loan on that rat trap he calls a ranch?”
“Money. Not gold,” she said slowly, thinking fast. He hadn’t found it. Yet.
“Just hard, solid cash.”
“I knew you were bluffing. You didn’t find my father’s treasure.”
“No. I said it to lure you here.”
“Why? So you could humiliate me by taking my virginity and then dumping me, like my father dumped you into a prison cell?”
His expression turned fierce. Ryder clasped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“Humiliate you, the only Lupine who ever saw me as a male of worth? I’d sooner cut off my balls, sweeting. I lured you here because I need a mate.”
More confusion. He didn’t want a night of intense sex, but a mate.
“I’m sure you have plenty of females to choose from, so why me? Do you want vengeance against my family for what Alastair did to you?”
“I had my revenge when I defeated your sire in a pack challenge for leadership. It’s done. Now I must have a mate as soon as possible.”
“Take out a personal ad.” She tugged at the handcuffs. “Why now and why me and why this? This is not a nice way to court me.”
A gleam lit his gaze. “I’m not a nice guy. I’m a wolf, and it’s time for me to mate. And ever since the day I kissed you in the hallway, I’ve wanted to strip you naked, push you up against a wall, spread you wide and fuck you senseless.”
A furious flush ignited her cheeks. Kara’s heartbeat increased at the evocative visual. “Guess that answers my question. You always did speak your mind.”
“That’s what got me into trouble with your father. He hated me for not being a meek omega. When I dared to kiss his daughter, he took action.”
Self-consciously, she put a hand over her right cheek, turning from him, feeling the pull of old scar tissue. “You weren’t the only one he punished.”
Damn had not meant to let that out. Kara stared out the window.
A strong, warm palm captured her chin. Ryder forced her to face him. Humiliation crawled through her, thick and dark and clogging. She faked a smile. “Like the view? I’ve changed since you last saw me.”
Gently, he thumbed her scarred cheek, though his gaze turned hard as flint. “I killed him too fast. Should have taken my sweet time with him for what he did to you instead of giving him an honorable death.”
He dropped his hand and put the truck into drive. They bumped and bounced as he guided the vehicle down the mountain. Kara bit her lip. She had to get out of this before they reached the ranch and the pack saw her.
“Release me, Ryder. You want revenge on Aiden and my family. Keeping me here won’t prove anything. The pack doesn’t give a damn who you choose for a mate.”
“Perhaps. The elders only advised me to find a mate, quickly, and fill her belly with my young.”
“You could have your choice among all the single females.”
“I want only you. You bring out the wolf in me.”
The husky note in his voice made her insides tremble. She held up her handcuffed wrists. “This is a bit extreme. Or are you into kinky stuff like bondage?”
He grinned. “Have not tried that. Yet. But I’m certain with you it could prove exhilarating. We could start with velvet ropes, work our way up to ball gags and harnesses before testing the really heavy stuff.”
“Ball gag my ass!”
“No sweeting, it goes into the other orifice. The one with your tongue.”